About Us

Rayska Heritage is a small independent firm of Heritage consultants based in Shrewsbury, specialising in project management and fundraising for heritage projects. The principal, Sula Rayska, has considerable experience in the field. She is qualified both as an archivist and as a surveyor and is a former Area Manager with the National Trust. She was the founder-Chairman of the Flounders Folly Trust and is the Project Manager for two Building Preservation Trusts. She has worked for Government Organisations, Building Preservation Trusts and Local Authorities and this experience has led to the successful establishment of the heritage consultancy. She can contribute to almost any heritage project, either alone or with an expert team she will create according to the needs of the individual project. She also works for the Heritage Lottery Fund as a Monitor, Mentor and Expert Adviser.

At the re-opening of Flounders' Folly, Sula Rayska describes the restoration work to Princess Anne.

Fund Raising

• Over £1 million in grants obtained for both Whittington Castle and Hopton Castle
• Over £300,000 grant obtained for the Flounders Folly Trust, from the HLF, LHI and other charitable trusts
• Experience of resourcing projects with the National Trust
• Experience of successful bids to the HLF, EH and other grant giving bodies
• Experience of obtaining funding at national and regional level, e.g. DEFRA, RDZ, RDPE and ERDF.
• Has written many successful bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund in four different regions

Clients

Among our recent and current clients are:

• Whittington Castle Preservation Trust
• Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust
• Hopton Castle Preservation Trust
• Bishop's Castle Town Council
• Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Project
• Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• The Forestry Commission
• Shropshire Council
• Manchester Historic Buildings Trust
• English Heritage
• The Heritage Lottery Fund
• Powys County Council

Working with Communities and Volunteers

Most successful projects depend on community involvement. Rayska Heritage is proud to play a key role in assisting the communities involved with our projects to build their capacity, to develop their aims and objectives and to take on and manage projects themselves. Training sessions can be arranged for volunteers for all types of tasks.

Volunteers

Sula has extensive experience of working with volunteers, and can advise on recruitment, training and developing volunteers. She can also produce a volunteer handbook for any organization that needs one.

At Flounders' Folly Sula Rayska organised woodcraft weekends, volunteer labouring and a volunteer-assisted bat survey. She has also managed volunteer work on restoration, education and nature conservation projects.

Project Management

Restoration

Sula Rayska is a qualified surveyor who worked in property management for almost twenty years, before moving to take up heritage work with the National Trust. She has considerable experience of managing projects involving restoration of ancient buildings and conservation. She has handled projects from inception to opening, inluding funding and putting together the right professional team.

Reports, Research & Publication

Rayska Heritage can provide  Plans forplanning or funding applications, including Conservation Management Plans, Activity Plans, Audience Development Plans and Interpretation Plans. As a qualified archivist Sula has researched and written many publications from short articles to company histories. We offer project research services; writing and publication can also be arranged.